12 Tips for Road-Tripping on a Budget

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Not every vacation needs to involve airplanes and tons of money spent. Plenty of travelers take to the road to experience new locations and hit popular destinations. If you’re thinking of jumping in the car for a road trip, take a look at some tips for keeping your expenses to a minimum, presented by Mental Floss and Discover.

1. Figure out your travel priorities.

When it comes to what you want out of a trip, everyone is different. Someone may be content to stay in modest accommodations but visit popular (and pricey) restaurants. Someone else may want a luxury stay and not care if they grab a hamburger. Knowing where your priorities are will help you develop a plan for your destination and the stops along the way. Without one, you might find yourself scrambling to find food and lodging based on what’s convenient, not what fits your budget.

2. Make sure your vehicle is road-ready.

Road-trippers can never avoid fuel expenses, but there are ways to minimize your gas consumption. Keeping your tires inflated, your cargo light, and using your own two feet to explore areas after parking are all good ways to conserve costs.

3. Pack snacks.

Long stretches in the car can make it tempting to pull into the nearest fast food drive-thru to get something in your stomach. Over the course of a few days, those detours can add up. Instead of dropping $20 or more on food combos, pack dry snacks like chips, protein bars, and fruit to keep you moving.

4. Find where the free entertainment is.

No matter where you go, you’re likely to find attractions that don’t require paying a high admission fee. Museums, public parks, and landmarks can be goals or pitstops. Either way, take advantage of a chance to experience something new without being charged.

5. Use credit card rewards to help pay for your trip.

When you’re road tripping, make sure you have a credit card that will help you pay for lodging, expenses, and gas. With the Discover it® Miles Card, you can earn 1.5X miles for every dollar spent on purchases with no annual fee. Not only will Discover match those rewards you earn at the end of your first year, the rewards will never expire. Learn more at Discover.com/travel.

6. Consider vacation rentals.

If your road trip involves a lot of people, it may be more cost-effective to seek out a vacation rental apartment or home rather than paying for multiple hotel rooms. You’ll also have the benefit of a kitchen for cooking which will save money on eating out.

7. Try not to travel during peak times.

Holiday weekends and college departures and arrivals can put a huge dent in your budget. Traffic gets congested, eating into fuel costs. Amenities like lodging and food can increase. If you can help it, it’s best to travel during non-peak times.

8. Give kids a budget.

If you’re traveling with children, you’ll quickly discover that everything looks appealing to them, from expensive foods to souvenirs. If they have their own budget for expenses, they’ll choose carefully and stick to things they really want instead of spending (or pestering) impulsively.

9. Make sure you have good auto insurance.

Nothing puts a bigger dent in your vacation and your wallet like having car trouble. Check with your insurance company to see if they have emergency roadside assistance coverage. A comprehensive plan can cover vandalism, theft, or damage and even pay for hotel rooms if your car needs overnight repairs.

10. Don’t forget the free breakfasts.

Staying in a hotel? Most have free continental or buffet breakfasts to enjoy, taking an entire meal’s worth of expenses off your itinerary.

11. Avoid gas stations just off the interstate.

Stations positioned right off exit ramps can be considerably more expensive than stations further in town. If you can hold off, it’s best to find one closer to your destination rather than pull into the first one you see.

12. Visit the visitor center.

Many tourist-friendly locations have a visitor’s center. You may already have your plans mapped out, but it’s still smart to drop by. Many of them carry coupons that could save you money on local food and attractions.

Get a card that will cover the cost of your road trip—and help pay for future travel as well. The Discover it® Miles Card will earn you 1.5X miles for every dollar spent on purchases with no annual fee and those rewards never expire. Plus, at the end of your first year, Discover will match all the miles you’ve earned automatically, which you can put towards another awesome vacation. Visit Discover.com/Travel to learn more!

This Smart Accessory Converts Your Instant Pot Into an Air Fryer

If you can make a recipe in a slow cooker, Dutch oven, or rice cooker, you can likely adapt it for an Instant Pot. Now, this all-in-one cooker can be converted into an air fryer with one handy accessory.

This Instant Pot air fryer lid—currently available on Amazon for $80—adds six new cooking functions to your 6-quart Instant Pot. You can select the air fry setting to get food hot and crispy fast, using as little as 2 tablespoons of oil. Other options include roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, and reheat.

Many dishes you would prepare in the oven or on the stovetop can be made in your Instant Pot when you switch out the lids. Chicken wings, French fries, and onion rings are just a few of the possibilities mentioned in the product description. And if you're used to frying being a hot, arduous process, this lid works without consuming a ton of energy or heating up your kitchen.

The lid comes with a multi-level air fry basket, a broiling and dehydrating tray, and a protective pad and storage cover. Check it out on Amazon.

For more clever ways to use your Instant Pot, take a look at these recipes.

At Mental Floss, we only write about the products we love and want to share with our readers, so all products are chosen independently by our editors. Mental Floss has affiliate relationships with certain retailers and may receive a percentage of any sale made from the links on this page. Prices and availability are accurate as of the time of publication.

The 5 Best Financial Gifts You Can Give Yourself This Holiday Season

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Between the gifts, parties, and other obligations of the holiday season, it might seem like smarter financial choices will have to wait. But just because you’re spending a little more than usual doesn’t mean you can’t put your financial planning into sharper focus. To help you get started, here are the best financial gifts you can give yourself this holiday season to prepare for a great 2020 and beyond, presented by Discover and Mental Floss. There are small steps you can take immediately to give your finances a boost, like using the Discover it card, which rewards you on every purchase you make with the card. And then there’s long-term planning, like retirement funds, that will help solidify your financial future.

1. Learn how to budget your money.

Plenty of people set spending limits on home expenses, entertainment, clothing, and other expenditures. But sometimes, these amounts need adjusting, especially as life and financial situations change over time. Consider sitting down at the end of the month and examining where all of your money went—from there you can spot unnecessary spending and find ways to fix it.

2. Take advantage of your credit card rewards.

Cash back, mileage, or promotional interest offers—credit cards offer a variety of incentives, but not everyone takes the time to analyze the offers. Don’t let free money pass you by—look into what rewards programs your card offers and take advantage of these financial gifts that are just waiting for you. With the Discover it card, for example, you can earn rewards on every purchase you make. Plus, Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year! It’s unlimited, too, so those weekly coffees you’re trying to fit into your budget can be paid for by money you’ve already earned. Learn more at Discover.com/match.

3. Evaluate your insurance coverage.

Some of us secure home or car insurance and then never think about it again. It’s better to assess your coverage periodically to make sure you’re financially protected for things that are important and consider gap coverage if your policy is lacking. It’s better to spend a little more in policy premiums now than be hit with an unforeseen hardship later. Alternately, you might find your premiums can be lowered owing to a new home improvement project, like new water pipes or an updated roof.

4. Start a retirement plan.

Don’t fall into the trap of putting off retirement savings until you snag a salary increase or reduce expenses. Every year you fail to feed a 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, or other nest egg means one less year you’ll accrue in your pursuit of saving for life after work. Remember that your employer may offer matching and tax-deferred options for diverting some of your income. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time to learn how to start a retirement fund—the sooner, the better.

5. Save for big purchases.

It can be hard to save money—it involves careful planning, a realistic strategy, and most importantly, cutting back a bit. But the benefits far outweigh the negatives. So if you don’t have one already, set up a savings account this holiday season and start putting some money away every month. It doesn’t even have to be you that does it—ask your bank or employer’s payroll department if they can set up an automated process to save the money for you. So next time you have your eye on a big trip or want to buy a new 4K television, you’ll have a nest egg waiting to pay for it. And big purchases lead to big cashback bonuses, so be sure to take advantage whenever you can.

You can take one step to financial stability with the Discover it® Card—which automatically matches all the cash back you earn, dollar for dollar, at the end of your first year. Learn more at Discover.com/match.